Chair back



May 20, 1.941I H. P. NORDMARK CHAIR BACK Filed June 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 grwmfvbofa Hzzz'g-1? Wordmark May 20, 1941 H. P. NoRpMARK 2,242,540

CHAIR BACK Filed June 29, 1939 y 3 SheeiS-Sheet 2 May 20, 1941. H. P. NORDMARK CHAIR BACK Filed Junel 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @M gw@ Patented May 20, 1941 SNES 'r rricr.

or to American Seating Company,

Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation ofA New Jersey Application .lune 29, 1939, Serial No. 281,812

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to chair backs and more particularly to upholstered backs for chairs of the opera type.

The primary objects of the instant invention are to provide a chair back of the character above indicated having a supporting sheet metal panel to whose forward surface is secured an upholstered covering; to provide such a chair back whose upholstered covering may be readily secured to its supporting panel and over sheet padding interposed therebetween; to provide such a chair back whose upholstered covering may be secured to its supporting panel and over sheet padding in a novel manner; and, to provide such a chair back which is attractive in appearance, comfortable in use and economical in manufacture.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a chair of the opera type having the novel type ofupholstered back;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view'of the chair on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the chair back whose fabric supporting panel is here shown as of stamped sheet metal to provide strength at light weight;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view thereof on lines 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View of a plurality of hook members carried by the fabric supporting panel for securing the upholstered covering thereto along its lower mar- Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the reticulated or expanded metal construction forming the frame for the sheet padding of the chair back;

Figure 11 is a sectional view thereof on line II-II of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the padding and its reticulated metal frame are inserted between the fabric supporting frame and its upholstered covering after which the form, over which the padding has been secured to its frame, is withdrawn;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the bottom end or apron of the upholstered covering is secured over the bottom end of its supporting panel after insertion of the padding and its frame between the fabricv covering andl its supporting panel;

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the lower end of the supporting panel and showing one ofthe supporting clips for securing the fabric supporting panel in its retained position;

Figiue l5' is a sectional view thereof on line l5--I2'i of Figure 14;

nated I2.

This chair back comprises a fabric supporting panel I3, here shown as formed of stamped Sheet metal having horizontally disposed strengthening ribs I4 integrally formed therewith and provided with a rolled marginal border I5 along its top and opposite sides to form a peripheral groove, all as best shown in Figures 3 and 4.

An upholstered covering I6 having a flexible cord I'I sewed within the peripheral top and side edges of the covering and which cord ern-bracing border is inserted within the marginal groove I5 of the supporting panel I3, is secured to the for- -e ward surface of the panel I3 by means of the marginal tongues I8 integrally struck therefrom and bent outwardly and over against the upholstered covering I lr as best shown in Figures 3 and 4.

A wire I9 having a plurality of spaced projecting loops 20 is embraced by the bottom marginal flange 2I of the supporting panel I3 as best shown in Figures 5 and 6 which loops provide fabric fastening hooks for securing the lower edge of the upholstered covering I6 to its panel in the manner hereinafter described,

Sheet padding 22 for the chair back and inserted within the envelope formed by the supporting panel I3 and its covering .IE secured thereto along its three marginal edges, is first secured to a anged frame member 23, here shown as of reticulated or expanded metal of the character illustrated in Figures and 11. The padding is thus secured to its frame member by first placing the sheet padding 22 on a flat surface with its frame member 23 laid thereon and the form 24 disposed within the frame member, all as best shown in Figure 7. The top and opposite marginal sides of the sheet padding 22 are next folded over the flanged marginal edge of the frame member 23 whose flanges are then bent inwardly upon the marginal edge of the sheet padding and against the surface of the form 24 as best shown in Figures 8 and 9.

The padded frame whose sheet padding is thus caused to adhere and engage with its reticulated surface is then inserted within the envelope formed between the fabric supporting panel I3 and its upholstered covering I6 together with the form 24 which is thereafter manually withdrawn by means of its apertured grip 25, all as best illustrated in Figure 12.

The apron 2B or lower free edge of the upholstered covering I6 is next folded over the bottom marginal edge of the fabric. supporting panel I3 whose hook loops 20 are projected therethrough and bent upwardly to retain the lower marginal edge of the upholstered covering I6 to the rear surface of the panel I3 as best shown in Figure 13.

A pair of clips 21 each having upwardly projecting points and a flanged lower portion 28 secured to a bracket 29 mounted on the inner surface of the finishing panel 30, each projecting through spaced parallel slits 3| on opposite sides of the panel I6 and near its lower marginal edge are provided for securing the assembled chair back I2 to the finishing panel 30. These clips likewise preferably pierce the fabric covering I6 to provide additional fastening means for securing the lower edge thereof to its supporting panel I6 as best shown in Figures 14 to 16. The inishing panel 30, preferably of stamped sheet metal. is thus secured adjacent the rear surface of the fabric supporting panel I6 and its forwardly anged ears 32 are secured to and between the end standards I0 in any suitable manner, all as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. I

In the modified form of chair back shown in Figures 16 and 17, the sheet padding 22 is not inserted between the fabric supporting panel I3 and its upholstered covering I6 but is secured to the panel by staples 33 before the fabric covering is secured to its panel.

It will thus be seen that the chair backs herein shown and described are all attractive in appearance, novel in character and economical in manufacture and while but several specific embodiments of the invention have been herein shown and described, it will .be understood that certain details of the constructions shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as the same is dened by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A chair back comprising a fabric supporting panel provided with a peripheral groove adjacent its top and sides and having fabric securing hooks adjacent its bottom edge, an upholstered covering for one surface of the panel whose top and side lengths are secured within the groove and whose bottom length is pierced by the hooks, and a-padded reticulated frame disposed between the panel and its upholstered covering.

2. A chair back comprising a fabric supporting panel provided with a peripheral groove on its rear surface adjacent its top and sides and having fabric securing hooks adjacent its bottom edge, an upholstered covering for the front surface of the panel whose top and side lengths are. turned over the top and sides of the panel and secured within the groove and whose bottom length is turned over the bottom edge of the panel and pierced by the hooks, and apadded reticulated frame disposed between the panel and its upholstered covering.

3. A chair back comprising a fabric supporting panel provided with a peripheral groove adjacent its top and sides and having fabric securing hooks adjacent its bottom edge, a plurality of spaced tongues strugck from the panel adjacent the groove, an upholstered covering for one surface of the panel whose top and side lengths are secured within the groove by the tongues bent into engagement with the covering and whose bottom length is pierced by the hooks, and a padded reticulated frame disposed between the panel and its upholstered covering.

4. A chair back comprising a fabric supporting panel provided with a peripheral groove on its rear surface adjacent its top and sides and having fabric securing hooks adjacent its bottom edge, a plurality of spaced tongues struck from the rear surface of the panel adjacent the groove, an upholstered covering for the front surface of the panel whose top and side lengths are turned over the top and sides of the panel and secured within the groove by the tongues bent into engagement with the covering and whose bottom length is turned over the bottom edge of the panel and pierced by the hooks, and a padded reticulated frame disposed between the panel and its upholstered covering.

5. A chair back comprising a fabric supporting panel provided with a peripheral groove adjacent its top and sides and having fabric securing hooks adjacent its bottom edge, an upholstered covering for one surface of the panel whose top and side lengths are secured within the groove and whose bottom length is pierced by the hooks, a padded reticulated frame disposed between the panel and its upholstered covering, and a finishing panel secured adjacent the rear surface of the fabric supporting panel.

6. A chair back comprising a fabric supporting panel provided with a peripheral groove on its rear surface adjacent its top and sides and having fabric securing hooks adjacent its bottom edge, an upholstered covering for the front surface of the panel whose top and side lengths are turned over the top and sides of the panel and secured within the groove and whose bottom length is turned over the bottom edge of the panel and pierced by the hooks, a padded reticulated frame disposed between the panel and its upholstered covering, and a finishing panel secured adjacent the rear surface of the fabric supporting panel.

7. A chair back comprising a fabric supporting panel provided with a peripheral groove adjacent its top and sides and having fabric securing hooks adjacent its bottom edge, a plurality of spaced tongues struck from the panel adjacent the groove, an upholstered covering for lone surface of the panel whose top and side lengths are secured within the groove by the tongues bent into engagement with the covering and whose bottom length is pierced by the hooks, a padded reticulated frame disposed between the panel and its upholstered covering, and a finishing panel secured adjacent the rear surface of the fabric supporting panel.

8. A chair back comprising a fabric supporting panel provided with a peripheral groove on its rear surface adjacent its top and sides and having fabric securing hooks adjacent its bottom edge, a plurality of spaced tongues struck from the rear surface of the panel adjacent the groove, an upholstered covering for the front surface of the 4panel Whose top and side lengths are turned over the top and sides of the panel and secured Within the groove by the tongues bent into engagement with the covering and whose bottom length is turned over the bottom edge of the panel and pierced by the hooks, a padded reticulated lframe disposed between the panel and its upholstered covering, and a finishing panel secured adjacent the rear surface of the fabric supporting panel.

9. A chair back comprising a rear finishing panel whose inner surface is provided with a pair of laterally spaced clips secured thereto and projecting vertically in spaced relation to the inner surface thereof, and a fabric supporting panel Whose inner surface is provided with a pair of laterally spaced horizontally disposel slits Within each of which a clip is projected for securing the fabric supporting panel to and forwardly of the nishing panel.

HENRY P. NORDMARK. 

